Repeating material dispenser



April 10, 1956 R. H. KIRKHOF 2,741,403

REPEATING MATE ZRIAL. DISPENSER Filed May 29, 1955 INVENTOR. RUSSEL H.KIRKHOF ATTORNEY United States Patent REPEATING MATERIAL DISPENSERRussel H. Kirkhof, Lamont, Mich.

Application May 29, 1953, Serial No. 358,349

6 Claims. (Cl. 222230) This invention relates to a dispensing device orattachment, which may be connected to a receptacle for holding materialto be dispensed. Such material preferably is in a finely divided orpowdered form. By means of the device which I have invented apredetermined measured quantity may be dispensed and such dispensingrepeated as many times as desired. The device is mounted at the outletend of a receptacle for continuing the powdered material and will form aclosure for the outlet end and such closure. By rotating it a shortdistance in one direction and then back in the opposite direction, thedispensing mechanism is actuated and with each rotation in eitherdirection for a short distance, a predetermined quantity of the materialis released and leaves the container.

It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide adispensing device or attachment of a simple and practical form which issure in its operation and of a sturdy and dependable character.

An understanding of a preferred embodiment of the invention may be hadfrom the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a receptacle having the dispensing device ofmy invention connected therewith at its outlet end.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the plane ofline 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section substantially on the plane of line 3-3 ofFig. 1, looking downwardly, showing the parts of the dispensingmechanism in one position, and

Fig. 4 is a like section with the dispensing mechanism in a secondposition.

Like reference characters refer to like ferent figures of the drawing.

The receptacle 1 is shown as a jar or bottle having an open end which isnormally closed by a sheet metal screw cap 2. Such bottle or jar is usedto contain many materials. l have used the dispensing mechanism which Ihave produced in conjunction with finely divided or powdered coffee ofthe type known as instant coffee, though it is to be understood that theinvention is adapted to be used with many other powdered materials.

From the cap 2, in the position of use of the invention, a cylindricalsleeve 3 extends downwardly. It is permanently secured to said cap 2which has a central opening 2a receiving the upper end portion of thesleeve 3. A gate member 4 of substantially elliptical form is pivotallymounted on a shaft 5 which extends horizontally between opposed sides ofthe sleeve 3, such member serving to close the receptacle againstoutward flow of the contents. It is diagonally disposed within thesleeve as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 in one position thereof,so that the powdered or finely divided material in the receptacle. willcome against such member 4 at the upper side thereof and will beretained until the member is rocked about the axis of the pivot shaft 5.

Two spring members 6 and 7 of spring wire are used. Each is of agenerally U-shaped form, the outer legs of parts in the 2,741,403Patented Apr. 10, 1956 each of which terminate in vertical sections 6aand 7a, respectively, which are permanently secured to and extenddownwardly into the walls of the sleeve 3 at substantially diametricallyopposed points as shown in Fig. 2. Such springs 6 and 7 extend upwardlyfrom the respective sections 6a and 7a into the receptacle 1 and attheir upper end portions are curved inwardly toward each other so thatthe opposite legs of the spring members 6 and 7 come together and areinserted in and permanently secured to the upper end portion of the gatemember 4.

The upper end portion of the section 7a of the spring 7 passes through alever 8 horizontally positioned over the upper end of and at one side ofthe sleeve 3. The inner end of the lever 8 carries an eye or ring 9integral with or permanently secured to said lever, through which theinner legs of the springs 6 and 7 pass prior to connection with themember 4.

The outer end of the lever 8 is between two spaced shoulders orabutments on the receptacle 1 as shown. Such shoulders or abutments areprovided by a recess 10 made in the adjacent end portion of thereceptacle 1, the opposite sides of the recess providing the shouldersor abutments between which the outer end of the lever 8 is located.

In the operation, the receptacle 1 which, normally, is reversed inposition from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is turned over so that itsenclosed outlet end is at the lower end of the receptacle as shown. Byengaging there against the side of the slot to the left of the lever 8,causing the lever to turn about its pivotal mounting on the sleeve tothe position shown in Fig. 4. Such movement of the lever causes aclockwise movement of the inner end portion of the lever 8 whereupon the'pivotally mounted gate member 4 is swung from the position in Fig. 4 tothat in Fig. 3, and material above the member 4 will drop by gravity outof. the sleeve 3. Such movement of the gate 4 is a quick snap movementso that the upper end portion thereof very quickly moves from one sideto the other of the sleeve 3, quickly closing the sleeve against flow ofmaterial after a portion has escaped, with the material at the oppositeside of the member 4 in position so that when rotative movement of thecap 2 and attached sleeve 3 is made in the opposite direction, theprocess is repeated with the dispensing of a second charge of materialfrom the receptacle.

Of course the abutments made by the opposite side edges of the notch 10may have as equivalents spaced projections extending inwardly from thewalls of the outlet end portion of the receptacle 1 operating in thesame way to serve the same purpose.

With this invention it is merely necessary to invert the receptaclecontaining the powdered material and then rock or turn the cap andattached sleeve back and forth about a vertical axis of movement. Thespring members 6 and 7 extending upwardly into the receptacle and,moving from one side thereof toward the other side, stirs the materialand keeps it from caking. In conjunction with instant coffee forexample, the number of rocking movements which are given to the cap 2will depend upon the quantity of the coffee material which is wanted,either one cup or any number of them, there being one rocking movement,for example, for one cup and as many as may be needed for additionalcups. It is to be understood that with the gate in either of its closedpositions the edge portions thereof will closely contact the inner sidesof the sleeve 5, not only preventing undesired passage of finelypowdered material downwardly when the receptacle is inverted but at alltimes preventing vapor mmsture entrance to the contents of thereceptacle which contents preferably is maintained in as dry a conditionas possible.

Theconstruction described is .very' practical and useful for the purposefor which it has been made. It is economical to produce and is certainand sure in its operation. The invention is defined in the appendedclaims, and is to he considered comprehensive-of all forms of structurecoming within their scope. I claim; 1. Structure as descrihedcomprising,a receptacle open 'at one end, a closure on said receptacle at said endcon nected therewith for rotative'movement' in either direction, asleeve secured at one endtto the closure extending away therefrom, saidclosure having an opening into which the sleeve extends, the upper endof the sleeve communicating with said receptacle, a gate member ofelliptical form within said sleeve mounted between the ends of saidmember on said 'sleeve for rocking movement, two

spring members of wire rod of generally U-form, each having an outer legsecured to the sleeve at its inner'end located.

2. Structure as described comprising, a receptacle, an outlet sleeve atone end of said receptacle, means for rotatively mounting said sleeveat. said end of the receptacle, an elliptical gate within said sleevemounted for rocking movement on an axis transverse to said sleeve, agenerally U-shaped spring connected at oncend to the inner end of thesleeve and at the other end to the inner end of the gate, said springextending into the receptacle, 7 a lever pivotally mounted between itsends at the inner end of said sleeve having an eye at its inner endthrough which said spring passes, and two spaced abutments on saidreceptacle between which the outer end of the lever is'located;

3. Structure as described comprising a receptacle, a'

sleeve rotatively connected, at one end of said receptacle, extendingaway therefrom, a gate said sleeve pivotally mounted to move between twopositions in the.

against passage of contents of the receptacle through the sleeve, alever pivotallv mounted between its end at the inner end of said sleeve,having its outer end extending to said receptacle, spaced abutments onsaid receptacle between which the outer end of said lever is located,and a spring connected at its ends to the inner end of said sleeve andto said gate, said spring passing through the inner end portion of saidlever, as and for the purposes described.

4.'Structurc as described comprising, a receptacle, a sleeve rotativelymounted on and at one end of said receptacle to turn about itslongitudinal axis, a gate within said sleeve pivotally mounted to turnon an axis transverse to said sleeve from one position in the sleeve toan opposite position, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on theinner end of said sleeve and engaged by said receptacle at its outer endand means pivotally connecting the other end of the lever with said gatewhereby,

. upon turning said sleeve about its longitudinal axis said sleeve, ineach of which position; the sleeve is closed gate is moved across thesleeve from one position tosaid opposite position.

5. Structure as described comprising a receptacle, .a sleeve rotativclyconnected to the receptacle at one end of andextending away therefrom, agate within said sleeve pivotally mounted between its ends to turn fromone diagonal position, relative to the length of the sleeve= to anopposite diagonal position, and means connected to the gate, sleeve andreceptacle, and operable to move the gate from one position to the otheron relative rotation of the sleeve and receptacle about thelongitudinal-axis of said sleeve.

6. Structure as described comprising, a receptacle, an

outlet sleeve at one end of said receptacle, a gate in-said sleevemounted for rocking movement on an axis transverse to said sleeve,manually operable means for rock ing said gate alternately from one sideto the other of saidsleeve, said gates normally closing said sleeve butmomentarily opening the sleeve as it moves from one side thereof to theother and spring means connected with the gate yieldingly holding thegate in sleeve closing position in both of said positions to which thegate is movable within the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of hi p tent UNITED STATES PATENTS 506L552Sample -Y V V V--- Oct. 10, 1893 68 0 S nger e V 0ct- 19.01 1,251,453Spencer H 7 Dec. 2 191 1,355,562 Mogensen .Oct. 12, 1920 2, 9 ,869 Ross9-,,

1.3., 19 2 2,612,829 Joyce Oct. 7, 19,52

